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Live Phytoplankton
We have home-grown phytoplankton for sale! Phytoplankton makes up the base of several aquatic food webs. They provide nutrients for a wide range of marine organisms such as zooplankton and tiny larvae. In addition to feeding beneficial microfauna, they benefit a reef aquarium by providing nutrition for filter feeding corals and invertebrates.
We culture three distinct species of phytoplankton, each chosen for its size and nutritional profile:
T-Isochrysis (T-Iso) is a golden-brown flagellate prized as a rich source of DHA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid, along with the pigment fucoxanthin. It's a workhorse food for larvae, copepods, and filter feeders.
Rhodomonas salina is a reddish cryptophyte that delivers a balanced mix of EPA and DHA plus phycoerythrin, a red pigment. Rhodomonas is also very high in protein compared to most other phytoplankton. Its soft cell covering makes it exceptionally digestible and a favorite of copepods and reef larvae, though that same softness gives it a shorter shelf life. It is best fed off within about two weeks.
Chaetoceros calcitrans is a small diatom and an excellent source of EPA. Because diatoms build a silica shell, it's also a natural way to deliver bioavailable silicon to the system.
Each species covers different nutritional ground thus making their strengths complementary rather than redundant. That is why we like to feed a combination of all three to our filter feeders and aquacultured larvae.
Bottles of phytoplankton can be stored for weeks in the refrigerator however an even better way is to provide it gentle light and aeration and start a persistent culture.
